MOTORING REVIEW: Award winning Jeep Avenger CDV does ‘the business’

THEY may account for just a small share of the Irish van market, but small businesses and tradespeople are spoilt for choice when it comes to purchasing a car-derived van (CDV), as many vehicle manufacturers now offer one in their line-up. CDVs are built on passenger-car platforms, so they offer car-like handling and comfort while providing extended cargo space and a favourable VRT rate. However, modifications must be carried out to an appropriate safety standard, and the Revenue Commissioners keep a close eye on compliance. 

My latest Jeep test drive was the Avenger CDV, available in both fully electric (BEV) and hybrid powertrains, delivering genuine Jeep DNA with all-weather and all-terrain capabilities despite its front-wheel-drive layout.

Its compact dimensions of 4.08m in length, 1.78m in width, and 1.53m in height make it ideal for city use. 

Up front, the signature seven-slot grille and full LED headlights stand out, and the skid plates reflect Jeep's iconic personality. Painted alloy wheels are from 16-inch to 18-inch.

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The Avenger Commercial has a very decent cargo area, although no official payload figures have been released. This is a smart-looking calling card for a business or sole operator when visiting clients, as it will impress with its stylish design and practicality. The model name Avenger is displayed on both sides, and a blue ‘e’ on the left rear shows it is an electric car, as does the green flash on the number plate. 

The glass on the rear side windows is left in situ, but the windows are fully covered to comply with regulations. From the outside, it is difficult to believe this is a small van, and I had to open the rear door to convince a friend that it was indeed a small load lugger, not a passenger car. 

The cabin is a nice place to spend time in. Seats, with cloth/vinyl upholstery and grey accents, and Jeep embossed on the seat backs, were very comfortable and supportive; the driver’s seat has 6-way manual adjustments, and the passenger seat has 4-way adjustments. 

There's some extra storage in the pockets left in place on both seat backs. Other storage areas include a half-sized glovebox with an open shelf above, a deep storage area on the central console with a foldable cover and two cupholders, an area below the front armrest, and large front door bins. Both USB-A and USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad are standard. 

The Altitude grade features a 10.25-inch infotainment system with navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and wireless Mirroring. There are physical buttons for volume, defrost (windscreen and rear window), fan, and climate controls (single-zone). The transmission selector is a row of separate buttons mid-dash and includes a B for more regeneration to help charge the battery. There's an electric parking brake with Auto Hold. 

The customisable driver’s instrument cluster shows relevant information, with the current speed shown at the centre top. I liked the ’twang’ sound of a guitar chord when I indicated to turn. 

My car had a power tailgate and a big rear wiper. The retention of the doors’ interior trim and armrest indicates a conversion, as do the disconnected power window switches and, of course, a see-through, wire bulkhead, which, with the large rear tailgate window, provides excellent rear visibility. The cargo floor is height-adjustable, and there is a tyre sealant below.

Avenger BEV delivers 260 Nm of instant torque; both passenger and CDV vans share the same 115 kW (156hp) electric motor and powertrain. Altitude has a claimed electric range of 394km WLTP (573km urban) and a power consumption of 15.7 kWh/100 km; Longitude offers a slightly higher range of 400 km (580 km urban). Road tax is €333. 

The Selec-Terrain system includes six drive modes of Normal, Eco, Sport, Snow, Mud and Sand, as well as Hill Descent Control, giving it almost all-terrain ability despite being front-wheel drive. 

Both grades come highly specced. Other features included a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, heated and power door mirrors, connected services, Adaptive Cruise Control, vulnerable road user recognition for pedestrians and cyclists, an Emergency Response System, and a Mode 3 charging cable. The Jeep Avenger small 5-door SUV received three out of five stars in Euro NCAP testing. 

The BEV can fast charge at 100 kW DC from 20pc-80pc in 24 minutes. EV batteries are designed to last the Avenger's planned life. Jeep offers an 8-year warranty up to 160,000km. 

Customers can choose from the following exterior colours: Snow (my car), Volcano, Ruby, Sun, Lake, Granite, or Stone. Only the Volcano colour comes as standard; the others are an extra €950. 

The Jeep Avenger CDV was awarded the title Car-Derived Van of the Year 2026 in association with Continental Tyres in November 2025, following a vote by experienced commercial vehicle journalists who are members of the Motoring Media Association of Ireland (MMAI). I enjoyed it so much that I didn’t want to return it after my test drives. 

Longitude BEV Commercial is priced from €39,108 (€30,627 net of grant + VRT Relief); Altitude BEV Commercial is from €32,964 net of grant + VRT relief and at €26,800 + VAT.